In all the years of sailing in fresh waters of Nebraska and South
Dakota the subject of used trailer rust never reached consciousness of this
sailor. After all, salt is for icy streets. It has nothing to do
with water, unless your cabin fever is so severe that you take your boat and trailer
for a drive in snow country.
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The Magic Pearl |
Upon relocation to a hot place with lots of salt in the water we
did not take much notice that our newly acquired Sea Pearl had a hot dipped
galvanized trailer strapped under it. Years upon years passed before the
capt noticed the port side trailer wheel leaning inboard at an alarming angle
as he backed the trailer into the driveway.
“This sort of thing happens a lot in Florida” My trailer
parts guy declared. “Just cover your new
axle completely with axle grease and you’ll not have a problem again”. As he wrote out the bill for the axle and
the grease. True to his word, we didn’t
and we learned how difficult it is for no see ems to penetrate the axle grease
that found its way to our extremities.
Winners all, we were.
Then
Came the HideAway – A Trailer-Less Com Pac 23
As the rent on my little patch of salt water increased from $100
per month to just north of $230, it became economically clear the HideAway
needed a home on the hard or worse -The Hook.
Of course she would hear nothing of this nonsense and held out for leaf
springs and four, mind you, four, soft cushy wheels.
It mattered not the least to her that a new trailer would cost, at
minimum, the same as the HideAway not including the full sized pickup truck
needed to tow said trailer. Boats are
like that you know. Ahhh, but Florida
is nautical place. A trip to the local
Marine Salvage yard was in order followed shortly by a similar journey to a
local used truck emporium to find a Big Red Truck. (Well, you know – Nebraska and all…)
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| A New Old Trailer |
A substantial looking former power boat trailer was found,
measured and priced to include an additional axle and a drum surge braking
system to accommodate the capts dreams of far away and certainly exotic, if not
romantic destinations. (This from a transplanted Nebraska/South
Dakota sailor living in Florida – The land of no winter to speak of).
A
Problem Solved
In the passing years the HideAways followed the same ritual. Launch, Sail, Recover and Wash. In summer the washing included the crew. In winter, not so much, however the motor and
the trailer always had a good fresh water bath.
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| Cast off all lines! SV HideAway |
Then one hot summer’s day one of the trailer wheels refused to
turn. The brake shoes had rusted to the drum! Then the other brake equipped wheel got in the
habit of making loud protest noises littering the parking lot with a trail of
red every time it rolled. Click here for the shocking video!
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| One of the holy fenders |
Added nuisances
included the giving away of all staples holding the carpet on the bunks not to
mention the appearance of the holy fenders. How could a hot dipped galvanized part
rust? After all, wasn't that the purpose
of the hot dip in the first place?
“I thought that hot dip galvanizing formed a bond between metal
and stuff that stopped rust from forming” I stammered to my trailer parts guy.
“Well, this sort of thing happens a lot in Florida”
he said. “It’s a lot like lovers breaking up… You see,
what happens is that any injury to the galvanized parts allows air and metal to
mix it up with the salt… you see and…rust forms…. that breaks them apart….” His
voice trailed off then continued. “You
have to repent……err…. Repaint… you know” his eyes glazed a bit just then “…to
get the bond back you see….. Just a minute… I have to make a call….” He said as I watched his back disappear into a
maze of trailer parts.
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| Southward bound - Sailing HideAway |
Don’t Let this happen to you!
Repaint my friend - often
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